West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-02-04
LIFE AMONG GERMAN WOMEN.
The Education in Letters, the Kitchen
and at Sewing--courtship Delights
and Marriage Sorrows.
Berlin Letter to Chicago News.

ilization of the same. The first step
in the conversion of 4 savage, one
might almost say, is the conquest OF
his inherited aversion to labor; the
second, the inculcation of respect for
woman. The latter is by some con-
sidered needless, | own. In fact, l
have heard the statement from the
'cathedra" of German university,
uttered by a professor of history
called the greatest in the fatherland,
that "ultra respect for the mothers
of land was an indiSputable sign
of deterioration, or proof of the COM
parative degree of civilization in
stanced by the United States of
America" Such remarks are un-
worthy discussion or refutation, and
pricking as they are, considering
their authority, l pass them by,
merely using them as an introduc-
ton TO short study of the German
"fraulein."
The fraulein's school career is
ended at fifteen, and "vale" is hidden
all covers" They have been edu-
Gated alone-co education is an in
tolerable evil-but they know little,
History and philology are their
strong points. AT their tongues
ends are the dates of events from the
birth of time, and French or pig
con" English equally we'll expresses
their maiden thoughts. Greek and
Latin have been held from them rs
forbidden fruit" In mathematics
they have hardly passed the rule
of three" ami withheld from even
the Pisgah of science. An American
seminary graduate would call them
''intellectuai upstairs" though their
little knowledge is of a thorough
ness that would please modern
"Duus Scotus." And it must be
confessed that their post graduate
course is far superior to that of the
American girl. 1t is not among the
"aowery paths of learning" on the
up hill road to degree-it is in the
kitchen. laundry and the school of
Jenny rOuvriere. Housewifery
is their only thought, matertamilias
their only hope. No German woman,
from princess down. is eligible who
cannot use Mrs. Breeton" or Mari
an Harland," and superintend the
work of her servants. That is q
matter of course.
The sewing school is an equally
prominent faculty in her ljfe's col
lege. In the smaller German towns
it is a common thing to meet dozens
of rosy-cheeked maidens, with work
baskets on their arms, trudging
away to their lessons. And when
they graduate their diplomas assure
comparative excellence. They make
their own clothing with Penelope like
ease. They are IL or is now, and
candidates for matrimony. They
have three years ere the case is hope
less-to seek their "freer," as they
call their husband "in spe"-as
though delivering them from Egyp-
tian bondage Use of words betrays
the character and feelings of q peo-
pie more quickly than all else. If
YOU know the language you know
the people. What other comment is
necessary upon the position of wo-
man in Germany than that one word
"freerT" But these candidates are
rather pretty, l admit. The long
golden locks. profuse as mermaid;
cheeks of rosy hue, eyes whose deep
blue, shaded by the long lashes, look
"true as steel;" lips which Venus
might envy, and behind them teeth
whose setting Hygeia might have
given. The figure is superb. The
beautifully rounded bust, the "soft
poetical lines of womanhood," are
never absent. The fiat breasts and
willowy figures which so often dis
tinguish the "genus Americanus"
are seldom seen. But let her walk,
and the charm usually vanishes like
a dream, or the dew from the grass
before the morning sun. Her gait
is shuffling, her dance has little of
"the light fantastic toe" She visits
few balls, chaperoned cap-a-pie.
Men who dance with her are watch
ed by eagle eyes. A bow, whirl, a
few gvrations so rapid that no whis
pered word is possible, an inclination
of thanks-and she returns home
guarded on all sides by servant girls,
that no gay Lothario can repeat the
"Rape of the Lock-" Her whole
moral code seems expressed in fear
of men, and yet she is dying, posi-
lively dying, to possess one. 1t is q
strange incongruity. Spinsters are
less respected here than elsewhere.
l have often heard women. when
approaching the dangerous year
which assigned them irrevocably to
the Objectionable sphere, sigh like
furnace" and fairly bewail their
future destiny. The bloom leaves
their cheeks, they enter decline or
end their lives. The home life is de-
void of interest One calls and is